Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04

der my observation for at least two hours.
Perhaps he was a mystifier or fool; to
me the terms are synonymous.
81 fancy we are playing at cross pur-
poses," he added after pause. "The fact
is that go daily among the Chinese at
the East End, in whom l take great in
terest, and what you have seen is one of
! the inevitable drawbacks to my Cccupa
ton"
Like all enthusiasts, once started on
his hobby, he proceeded to ride it to
death. He explained to me that by our
| system of fostering the opium industry
in India, we were causing yearly the
death and moral ruin of thousands of in
telligent Chinese. He diiated for an
| hour, and then he launched out upon the
destitute condition of the large Chinese
colony at the East End of London. I
tried to get away several times, but in
effectually. At last he succeeded IN com
municating to me portion a very small
portion-of his own enthusiasm. He
painted terrible picture of John China
man in London, homeless, penniless,
friendless, hopeless, possessed body and
soul by the opium fend, spending his
hard earned coppers in sordid dens upon
the fatal drug, which was to assuredly
repay bis infatuation by gradually steal
ing away his good health, his brains, and
az last mis- life. He fairly made my flesh
creep.
"My dear fellow" he said, "there is no
time like the present; come and see for
yourself"
Iresisted, but in vain. [ have said I
am difident. I fear [ have no strength
of mind. | never can say no. { could
not say no to Campbell. It was 10
O'Clock at night. He got me down stairs.
1t was an awful night. In a hanson cab
he dragged me to the most dreadful slum
of the East End of London. Such sordid
misery as I saw there I had never
dreamt of.
am not going to infict upon you a
long description of an opium den; that
has been done before by a master-hand,
and has been attem pied over and over
again by puny imitators. There lay
John Chinaman enjoying his poison. A
china ink-bottle and q bit of BAN
loo formed mis- pipe. The ink-bottle
had a bole in the side, on which the
treacly-looking drug was carefully
smeared, then it was lighted. John
smoked few whiffs in evident ecstacy,
and then John died, or at least appeared
to do SO. Opium smoking John was a
miserable object; he was lean, sickly look
ing, melancholy sight.
cts very dreadful, isn't it9" said
Campbell. "I mustn't let this opportun-
ity slip. You're doctor. [ want to see
what it's like. It isn't mere curiosity
feel; it's sort of melancholy duty. Now
you're here, I'll get you to watch over
me-"
OF what new absurdity was Campbell
about to be guilty? It was bad enough
that he should bring unpleasant proofs of
his philanthropy to that peaceful place,
the Rice and Curry club; it was worse that
he should drag me, professional man,
gratuitously-that was the extra sting to
it-and in the middle of the night, to an
abominable Chinese den at the East End
of London. But now he put climax to
his wickedness by asking me to watch over
| him, as if L were guardian angel. [
never felt less like a guardian angel in
my life. I was about to Indignantly re-
| fuse
81 sent away the cab," said Campbell
coolly.
Horror! we were then to stop here till
morning! for there was certainly no get
ting away from the place except in a cab.
/ had recently seen THE Romany Rye"
and the awful horrors of the East End of
London at midnight were fresh in my
mind. Who knows but that had been
decoyed here by Compbell? He might
be my illegitimate brother, who had
brought me here to murder me, and I was
an unarmed man! The remembrance of
Mr.. Wilson Barrett's frantic struggles
flashed through me. Alas, had seen for
myself that the very horrible persons on
the Princess stage we're no exaggeration.
[ was evidently in for it, but determined
that nothing should decoy me into those
dreadful streets, of which, from Or cab
window I had already seen more than
enough.
But Campbell proceeded to reassure
me. "My dear fellow" he said, "you
seem uncomfortable, but there is nothing
to be alarmed about; all | want you to do
is to look after me professionally. [ am
about to make an experiment, by trying
for myself what the mUch-vaunted de-
lights of opium smoking really are.
These poor fellows" he said, with SYM
pathizing glance at the disgusting corpse
like objects, who lay about in every
direction, "always tell me that if I only
try it once, I should do as they do. feel
that l could speak to them with more
authority if l had really made the ex-
pertinent, and now is my opportunity. I
shall ask our host to supply me with a
pipe of his best opium"
He turned to diabolical looking old
Chinaman who sat crouching on the floor,
warming his attenuated fingers over an
earthen pot filled with live charcoal, and
addressed him in his native language. L
did not understand what they said
they smiled, grinned and gesticUlated,
and l saw that 1t was no use to argue with
Campbell He deliberately took off his
coat and collar, and undid the top button
of his shirt; then he calmly proceeded to
lie down by the side of one of the revolt
ing objects en- the great wooden bedstead,
which formed the only furniture in the
sordid room.
The Chinaman produced from his
breast rather more elaborate pipe than
those [ had yet seen. IL was about six
inches long; the bowl was formed of a
tiny saucer of silver, the size of shilling.
From small metal box the old man pro-
eeeded to charge it with opium; he then
lighted it, drew it into action with his own
| disgusting mouth, and, with low obei-
sance, handed it to Campbell, who pro-